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Oklahoma men's basketball: Coaches asking Sam Grooms for more defense

Until that happens, Grooms will likely be coming off the bench for the Sooners.

By Stephanie Kuzydym •
Published: February 3, 2013

NORMAN — Sam Grooms wasn't sick.

At least, that's what Oklahoma men's basketball coach Lon Kruger confirmed the day before his senior reserve sat the entire first half of the Sooners' game against Kansas State.

Oklahoma's Sam Grooms (1) takes a shot against Kansas State's Angel Rodriguez (13) to tie the game in the final minute during an NCAA men's basketball game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Kansas State at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Kansas State won, 52-50. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

“He's feeling fine,” Kruger said of Grooms, who scored five points in the final minute of the Sooners' 52-50 loss.

Grooms wasn't playing as many minutes because he wasn't playing defense. The same is true, Kruger said, for senior guard Steven Pledger.

Kruger said he knows his team needs to be stronger defensively going into Monday's Big 12 game at Iowa State. The Cyclones are a strong team that leads the league in scoring and beats most teams from beyond the arc.

For that, the Sooners will need Grooms, who ended Saturday's game vs. Kansas State with 12 minutes played, and Pledger, who played just eight minutes in the second half.

“Again, having trouble getting shots and getting separation from his man,” Kruger said of Pledger. “Then defensively had some trouble staying close to his men, too. Steve will bounce back.”

He said something similar of Grooms: “Just got to get a few better results, especially on the defensive end. That's an area where we can't have possessions where we don't get down and really work at guarding people. Sam will bounce back, and he'll play key minutes for us and still contribute in a lot of ways.”

Against the Wildcats, the pair combined for two assists, three turnovers, one steal and two rebounds. Last season, Pledger and Grooms were the fourth- and fifth-best defensive rebounders on the team.